The intention initially to draw reference from this for botanical specimens, however, research extended further to look at rainforest tribespeople - in the case of Joseph Banks, it would be aboriginal Australians etc.

I was also interested in rainforest temples, so whilst making lists of tribes, I was looking at Ta Prohm, Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and Preah Khan temples in Cambodia.

In extending this search to the Americas and Amazon tribes, with Aztec, Mayan and Incan Gods and Goddesses, it was Tikal in Peru, Uxmal and Chichen Itza, Cuzco and Pachakuti. Which reminded me of watching The Mysterious Cities Of Gold back in the 1980s, and I found the entire series available to watch online here

Initial sketches of some of the characters from the anime using some Posca markers that were a recent birthday present.

Esteban is the Child Of The Sun.

Kokapetl is Tao's pet parakeet.

The Children Of The Sun

Morka - Amazon girl

The Children Of The Sun are Zia, Esteban and Tao. Zia is an Incan girl, adept at reading the kipu beads. Esteban was rescued as a baby by Mendoza, sort of like Moses, and grew up in Spain. Tao is the last descendant of the mysterious Hiva People. Tao's pet parakeet is Kokapetl.Morka is an Amazonian girl the children met. She is terrified to hear the plans of the High Priestess, who plans to sacrifice her to the Rain God.The Children Of The Sun hatch a plan to save her and rid the Amazons of the wicked priestess.

Whilst illustrating characters from The Mysterious Cities Of Gold, I came across an image of Joseph Banks as a boy, looking at botanical drawings. I decided to illustrate him in the same style as the MCoG characters, although the time periods are out of synch. Mysterious Cities Of Gold is set in the sixteenth century, and Joseph Banks didn't set sail until much later.

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About Me

The blackbird is the artist's signature; blackbirds represent the liminal realm between Waking Life and the Land of Motionless Childhood, which is near Pinchbeck.
The artwork is a heterogeneous mixture of differing influences, currently including philosophy, comic book art, A-ha, dolls, Baudrillard, Borges, and God.
The rest of my art work is on my website, where there are links to purchase my work via Redbubble.
My Illustration blog is blackbirds-birdhouse.blogspot
My fine art blog is helend-blackbird.blogspot
My camera is called "The Lady Of Shalott"
Blackbird's website: www.helendearnley.co.uk
Narrated by: Gunnar Erfjord
All work copyright Helen Dearnley.